Chapter 62: Chapter 55, A Slap l

“How come this Hong Mei is blooming so beautifully? I haven’t even seen such a potted plant in the main courtyard of the Zhu Family,” Zhu Xiuyun sighed while glancing at Yan Yishuang by her side.

She truly admired the Hong Mei and longed to take it home to delight in its beauty.

During the cold, desolate winter, having such a pot of Hong Mei would also add a dash of color to the room.

Her relationship with Yan Yishuang was not bad, and she wondered if asking for it would prompt her to agree to give the Hong Mei to her.

She wouldn’t ask for it for nothing, Yan Yishuang liked her inkstone, didn’t she? She could trade her inkstone for it!

Just as Zhu Xiuyun hesitated about whether to ask Yan Yishuang, the voice of Master Lin’s servant rang out.

“Miss Yan!”

Yan Yishuang and the others turned around and saw Daohua with Wang Manman entering the pavilion.

Seeing the brand new dress that Daohua wore, which was made from the Fuguang Brocade previously sent by the Li Family, Yan Yile’s expression soured, and she said in a bad tone, “Big sister, you usually don’t bother with us, so why do you think of sharing a pavilion with us today?”

Daohua ignored Yan Yile’s sarcastic remark and glanced at the servant Master Lin standing aside; she had not wanted to come over, as the Hong Mei had been returned and would soon be sent back to the main courtyard anyway.

But she wanted to witness for herself the cunning of this brother of Mistress Lin who was said to be extremely clever.

She was clear in her heart that if this man appeared so coincidentally in the pavilion she had to pass through, he definitely had an agenda.

She could choose to ignore it, but as the saying goes, there is the saying that the thief cannot be on guard every day.

Knowing that Shuangxin Courtyard was concealing some schemes, she might as well reveal them.

Daohua’s gaze fell on the table’s Hong Mei and she said indifferently, “I am here to take the Hong Mei. I don’t mean to disturb you.” After that, she looked at Wang Manman, signaling her to pick up the Hong Mei.

However, just as Wang Manman reached out to do so, someone stopped her.

The person who interfered surprised Daohua; she had anticipated Yan Yishuang or Yan Yile would intervene, but she did not expect Zhu Xiuyun, an outsider, to be the first to step in.

“Miss Zhu, what do you mean by this?”

Zhu Xiuyun looked somewhat arrogant and contemptuous, “Big Sister Yan, I’ve been wanting to tell you that being overbearing is not the way to behave, especially not for us women.” She had her eyes on the Hong Mei and was planning to exchange it with Yan Yishuang, how could she let the eldest Miss of the Yan Family take it away?

Daohua frowned, feeling somewhat impatient inside. She really did not want to argue with a bunch of manipulative children, and she said coolly, “Miss Zhu, perhaps you should spend the time to reflect on your own behavior instead of speaking about others here?”

“Manman, take the Hong Mei; we’re going back to the main courtyard.”

“Yes!”

This time, Zhu Xiuyun still wanted to stop her, but, unfortunately, Wang Manman didn’t give her the chance, adeptly moving past her and swiftly picking up the Hong Mei from the table.

“No, you can’t take the Hong Mei away.”

Just as Wang Manman was about to leave with the Hong Mei, Zhu Xiuyun surprisingly reached out and grabbed Manman’s arm, refusing to let go.

Daohua’s face darkened, “Miss Zhu, though you are a guest, that does not mean you can act as you please in the Yan Family’s back courtyard. Mr. Zhu, the education officer, always emphasizes proper conduct. Please do not bring shame to your father.”

When Daohua mentioned her father, Zhu Xiuyun suddenly remembered the conversation between her parents from the previous night.

Her mother had said the County Magistrate was counting on his eldest brother, who was serving as a city magistrate, to put in a good word for him during the performance review. Yet, he was too miserly to spare a pot of Hong Mei for their family, truly petty and stingy.

She also suggested that even if her father truly petitioned for the Hong Mei, the County Magistrate would not refuse for the sake of his career.

With this in mind, Zhu Xiuyun felt there was a strong possibility she could obtain the Hong Mei, so she became even less willing to release Wang Manman’s arm, “Miss Yan, I have never seen such a domineering sister who would snatch her own sister’s possession!

“I know you are from the countryside, and manners and etiquette are things you know nothing about. This can be seen from how you even dared to contradict Master Qin. That you might be ignorant of such things is one matter, but surely, you understand the principles of revering the old and loving the young, and of harmonious sibling relationships?”

Daohua let out a cold laugh and glanced at Master Lin’s servant standing beside her, “Miss Zhu, please do tell, what exactly have I snatched from my sisters?”

Zhu Xiuyun looked disdainfully at Daohua, “How can you have the audacity to do something and yet not admit it? There are many witnesses here in the pavilion. As soon as you arrived, you tried to take Yishuang’s Hong Mei. Do you still want to argue?”